![060724. friends after fatal Friends, family and school personnel gathered outside the Columbus Regional Emergency Department waiting for news of the wreck victims.](https://columbuscountynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/060724.-friends-after-fatal-600x381.jpg)
Developing story
A Whiteville High School student died and three other students were seriously injured in a crash on Sunset Drive today, less than an hour after school was dismissed for the year.
Multiple law enforcement and emergency units were called to the scene just after noon. Whiteville schools dismissed early due to the water outage in the city. Multiple first responders confirmed that one youth, a male, died.
Families and friends of the four victims gathered at Columbus Regional in the parking lot by the emergency department. The hospital was put on lockdown to keep paths clear for medical staff and emergency traffic.
The Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as they become available. Follow columbuscountynews.com on social media for the latest information.